Marion, Alabama
Encyclopedia
Marion is the county seat
of Perry County, Alabama
. As of the 2000 census, the population of the city is 3,511. First called Muckle Ridge, the city was renamed after a hero of the American Revolution, Francis Marion
.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 10.7 square miles (27.7 km²), of which, 10.6 square miles (27.5 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (0.94%) is water.
of 2000, there were 3,511 people, 1,184 households, and 819 families residing in the city. The population density
was 331.8 people per square mile (128.1/km²). There were 1,418 housing units at an average density of 134.0 per square mile (51.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 62.46% Black
or African American
, 36.26% White
, 0.26% Native American
, 0.09% Asian
, 0.09% Pacific Islander
, 0.26% from other races
, and 0.60% from two or more races. 0.97% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
There were 1,184 households out of which 31.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.8% were married couples
living together, 25.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.8% were non-families. 28.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.17.
In the city the population was spread out with 27.5% under the age of 18, 15.7% from 18 to 24, 21.5% from 25 to 44, 18.7% from 45 to 64, and 16.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 80.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 72.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $24,330, and the median income for a family was $29,663. Males had a median income of $27,422 versus $20,240 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $11,934. About 28.4% of families and 33.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 51.3% of those under age 18 and 15.1% of those age 65 or over.
, a black man, was sentenced to death by a jury in Marion for stealing $1.95 from Estelle Barker.
In 1964, Marion was a center of civil rights protests in Alabama. During a peaceful march on 18 February 1965, Jimmie Lee Jackson
was shot and killed by Alabama State Trooper James Bonard Fowler
. Jackson later died of an infection stemming from the wounds at nearby Good Samaritan Hospital in Selma
. Jackson's death is recognized as the catalyst for the Selma to Montgomery March later that year. It was not until 2007, that Fowler was indicted for murder for his role in Jackson's death. In 2010, Fowler pled guilty to a lesser charge of manslaughter.
, First Congregational Church of Marion, the Henry House, Marion Female Seminary
, Phillips Memorial Auditorium
, President's House at Marion Institute
, Siloam Baptist Church
are all individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It has one National Historic Landmark
, Kenworthy Hall
. The city also has several historic districts, including the Green Street Historic District, Judson College Historic District, Marion Courthouse Square Historic District
, and West Marion Historic District
. Historic district buildings of special significance include examples such as Reverie
.
remain. Howard College was founded in Marion in 1842, and moved to Birmingham
in 1887, later becoming Samford University
. A groundbreaking school for African American
s, the Lincoln Normal School
, was founded here in 1867. The associated Lincoln Normal University for Teachers moved to Montgomery
and became Alabama State University
.
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Perry County, Alabama
Perry County, Alabama
Perry County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. It was established in 1819, and is named in honor of Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry of Rhode Island and the United States Navy. As of 2010 the population was 10,591...
. As of the 2000 census, the population of the city is 3,511. First called Muckle Ridge, the city was renamed after a hero of the American Revolution, Francis Marion
Francis Marion
Francis Marion was a military officer who served in the American Revolutionary War. Acting with Continental Army and South Carolina militia commissions, he was a persistent adversary of the British in their occupation of South Carolina in 1780 and 1781, even after the Continental Army was driven...
.
Geography
Marion is located at 32°37′58"N 87°19′2"W (32.632838, -87.317284).According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 10.7 square miles (27.7 km²), of which, 10.6 square miles (27.5 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (0.94%) is water.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 3,511 people, 1,184 households, and 819 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 331.8 people per square mile (128.1/km²). There were 1,418 housing units at an average density of 134.0 per square mile (51.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 62.46% Black
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 36.26% White
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.26% Native American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.09% Asian
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.09% Pacific Islander
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.26% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.60% from two or more races. 0.97% of the population were Hispanic
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or Latino
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
of any race.
There were 1,184 households out of which 31.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.8% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 25.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.8% were non-families. 28.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.17.
In the city the population was spread out with 27.5% under the age of 18, 15.7% from 18 to 24, 21.5% from 25 to 44, 18.7% from 45 to 64, and 16.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 80.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 72.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $24,330, and the median income for a family was $29,663. Males had a median income of $27,422 versus $20,240 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $11,934. About 28.4% of families and 33.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 51.3% of those under age 18 and 15.1% of those age 65 or over.
Civil Rights Era
A number of significant events occurred in Marion relating to the American Civil Rights Movement. In 1958 Jimmy WilsonJimmy Wilson (handyman)
Jimmy Wilson, born in 1903 or 1904, was an African-American handyman who was convicted of robbery and sentenced to death by an all-White jury in a Marion, Alabama court in 1958 for stealing $1.95 from a White American woman, Esteele Barker. According to the Des Moines Register, "a court official...
, a black man, was sentenced to death by a jury in Marion for stealing $1.95 from Estelle Barker.
In 1964, Marion was a center of civil rights protests in Alabama. During a peaceful march on 18 February 1965, Jimmie Lee Jackson
Jimmie Lee Jackson
Jimmie Lee Jackson was a civil rights protestor who was shot and killed by Alabama State Trooper James Bonard Fowler in 1965. Jackson was unarmed. His death inspired the Selma to Montgomery marches, an important event in the American Civil Rights movement. He was 26 years old.-Personal...
was shot and killed by Alabama State Trooper James Bonard Fowler
James Bonard Fowler
James Bonard Fowler became a significant player in escalating the acute racial conflict that led to the Selma to Montgomery marches in the American Civil Rights Movement...
. Jackson later died of an infection stemming from the wounds at nearby Good Samaritan Hospital in Selma
Selma, Alabama
Selma is a city in and the county seat of Dallas County, Alabama, United States, located on the banks of the Alabama River. The population was 20,512 at the 2000 census....
. Jackson's death is recognized as the catalyst for the Selma to Montgomery March later that year. It was not until 2007, that Fowler was indicted for murder for his role in Jackson's death. In 2010, Fowler pled guilty to a lesser charge of manslaughter.
Recent Events
In 2009, Marion made national news when a three-year old family feud turned into a 150-person riot outside the town's city hall, resulting in the arrest of eight people and the hospitalization of two. The police chief was injured when a crowbar hit him in the head, while Judson College warned students to avoid the downtown area for 24 hours.Historical Structures
Marion has many historic structures, with most listed on historic registers directly or as contributing buildings. The Chapel and Lovelace Hall at Marion Military InstituteMarion Military Institute
Marion Military Institute, often abbreviated with the initialism MMI, is the official state military college of Alabama. Founded in Marion in 1842, it continues at its original location.-History:...
, First Congregational Church of Marion, the Henry House, Marion Female Seminary
Marion Female Seminary
The Marion Female Seminary is a registered historic place in Marion, Alabama....
, Phillips Memorial Auditorium
Lincoln Normal School
The Lincoln Normal School, also known as the Lincoln School was a historic African American school in Marion, Alabama. Its roots went back to a Union soldier who remained in Marion after the end of the Civil War to teach newly freed African Americans...
, President's House at Marion Institute
Marion Military Institute
Marion Military Institute, often abbreviated with the initialism MMI, is the official state military college of Alabama. Founded in Marion in 1842, it continues at its original location.-History:...
, Siloam Baptist Church
Siloam Baptist Church
The Siloam Baptist Church congregation was established in 1822. The current brick Greek Revival building was completed in in 1848.It is considered by Baptists in the state as one of the most important mother churches of many Alabama Baptist institutions and churches...
are all individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It has one National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
, Kenworthy Hall
Kenworthy Hall
Kenworthy Hall, also known as the Carlisle-Martin House and Carlisle Hall, is located on the north side of Alabama Highway 14, two miles west of the Marion courthouse square. It was built from 1858 to 1860 and is one of the best preserved examples of Richard Upjohn's distinctive asymmetrical...
. The city also has several historic districts, including the Green Street Historic District, Judson College Historic District, Marion Courthouse Square Historic District
Marion Courthouse Square Historic District
The Marion Courthouse Square Historic District is a historic district in Marion, Alabama. It is centered on the Perry County Courthouse and includes examples of Greek Revival, Gothic Revival, and Tudor Revival architecture. The boundaries are roughly along Green, Washington, Jefferson, Jackson,...
, and West Marion Historic District
West Marion Historic District
The West Marion Historic District is a historic district in the city of Marion, Alabama. The historic district is bounded by West Lafayette, Washington, College, Margin streets, and Murfree Avenue. It features examples of Colonial Revival, Craftsman, Greek Revival, and regional vernacular...
. Historic district buildings of special significance include examples such as Reverie
Reverie (Marion, Alabama)
Reverie is a historic Greek Revival mansion built circa 1858 in Marion, Perry County, Alabama. It now serves as a residence and also historic house museum. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a contributing property to the West Marion Historic District and was recorded by...
.
Education
Marion has been called The Athens of the South because of the dominating presence of its colleges, of which Judson College and Marion Military InstituteMarion Military Institute
Marion Military Institute, often abbreviated with the initialism MMI, is the official state military college of Alabama. Founded in Marion in 1842, it continues at its original location.-History:...
remain. Howard College was founded in Marion in 1842, and moved to Birmingham
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
in 1887, later becoming Samford University
Samford University
Samford University, founded as Howard College is a private, coeducational, Alabama Baptist Convention-affiliated university located in Homewood, a suburb of Birmingham, Alabama, United States. It includes the , Cumberland School of Law, McWhorter School of Pharmacy, Brock School of Business, Ida V....
. A groundbreaking school for African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
s, the Lincoln Normal School
Lincoln Normal School
The Lincoln Normal School, also known as the Lincoln School was a historic African American school in Marion, Alabama. Its roots went back to a Union soldier who remained in Marion after the end of the Civil War to teach newly freed African Americans...
, was founded here in 1867. The associated Lincoln Normal University for Teachers moved to Montgomery
Montgomery, Alabama
Montgomery is the capital of the U.S. state of Alabama, and is the county seat of Montgomery County. It is located on the Alabama River southeast of the center of the state, in the Gulf Coastal Plain. As of the 2010 census, Montgomery had a population of 205,764 making it the second-largest city...
and became Alabama State University
Alabama State University
Alabama State University, founded 1867, is a historically black university located in Montgomery, Alabama. ASU is a member school of the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund.- History :...
.